A sampling of Texas reaction to court ruling striking down Voter ID law

A panel of three federal judges delivered a blow to the Texas Voter ID law, yesterday, ruling that the measure discriminates against minorities and the poor. Here is a sampling of reaction from Texas elected officials and key players in the case:

“The judges affirmed the very arguments that opponents made back during the session, that a picture ID requirement to gain access to the ballot box is an unfair and improper burden on a vast segment of society.”

“Today, three federal judges confirmed what I and many others have said since the voter photo identification law was first passed: the Texas legislature passed an illegal law that would take our state backwards. The court today agreed that the law imposes ‘an implicit fee for the privilege of casting a ballot’, what my colleague John Lewis has called ‘poll taxes by another name.’ “

Bob Kengle, Co-director of the Voting Rights Project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law:

“A million or more eligible Texans lack photo ID and the court’s decision is a clear victory on their behalf. This decision sends a strong message that states passing photo ID laws need to fix the problems with them. If they won’t do it on their own then the courts will force them to do it.”

Christina Sanders, State Director for the Texas League:

“This is a validation of the power that people have when they organize. But the fight is not over. Thousands of young voters who were placed in jeopardy by Voter ID have a major role to play in this upcoming November election, and we are going to organize them every step of the way.”

“Chalk up another victory for fraud. Federal judges subverted the will of the people of Texas and undermined our effort to ensure fair and accurate elections. The Obama Administration’s claim that it’s a burden to present a photo ID to vote simply defies common sense. I will continue to work with Attorney General Abbott to fight for the same right that other states already have to protect their elections.”

“The Supreme Court of the United States has already upheld Voter ID laws as a constitutional method of ensuring integrity at the ballot box. Today’s decision is wrong on the law and improperly prevents Texas from implementing the same type of ballot integrity safeguards that are employed by Georgia and Indiana – and were upheld by the Supreme Court. The State will appeal this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, where we are confident we will prevail.”

“Though I’m disappointed in today’s decision, the Supreme Court will have the final say as Texas fights to preserve the integrity of the voting process with a commonsense, constitutional law vital to the health of our democracy.”

State Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, the chairwoman of the House Democratic Caucus:

“It’s high time for Attorney General Abbott to stop burning our tax dollars on losing lawsuits meant to make it harder for Texans to vote. Instead of waging a partisan crusade against key protections granted by the landmark Voting Rights Act, he should start focusing on the real issues facing Texas.”

“I thank the DC Federal Court for standing up for voting rights and against discrimination and disenfranchisement. Throughout this entire process, Texas consistently failed to produce information showing the law would not have a discriminatory impact on minority voters. The Voting Rights Act exists for this exact purpose: protecting the ability of all Americans to access the ballot box.”

“One would think that if this law is good enough for Mexico and Afghanistan, it would be good enough for Texas. The Supreme Court has already upheld the Indiana and Georgia Voter ID laws. This seems to be a legal ploy to change the impact of Texas voters on the November elections.”

“It’s just an election-time ploy to create controversy. Ultimately, the Supreme Court will rule it constitutional.”

State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth:

“Requiring photo identification could have, perhaps, been enacted fairly, but Governor Perry and state leaders insisted on forcing through a flawed law that would have wasted millions of taxpayer dollars without protecting a single vote,” she said in a statement. “Texas leaders should be focusing on creating jobs instead of throwing money away on partisan politics.”

And the homepage of Texas Republican Senate candidate Ted Cruz says it all: